Training athletes can be as "simple" or as detailed as you want it to be. But simple doesn't always mean it's going to be effective nor does being complex. If something isn't working, you have to be able and willing to pivot and try something new. When trying something new, review the old, look at your data points, talk to your athlete and allow that to drive your next decision.

Training plateaus can be frustrating and demotivating, but they are a common obstacle on the path to achieving fitness goals. Whether you're an athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or someone who simply wants to stay in shape, hitting a plateau can feel like hitting a wall. However, with the right mindset and strategies, you can overcome training plateaus and continue making progress towards your goals. 

Competing in any field or sport comes with its fair share of highs and lows. While victories are sweet, setbacks are an inevitable part of the journey. How you handle these setbacks can significantly impact your performance and overall growth as an athlete. In this blog, we will explore effective strategies to help you bounce back strong from setbacks in competition, enabling you to maintain a resilient mindset and continue striving for success.

As athletes age, their bodies undergo numerous physiological changes that can affect their performance and overall well-being. Stress, both physical and mental, plays a crucial role in an athlete's training regimen and can significantly impact their progress and long-term health. In this blog post, we will explore why monitoring stress is of paramount importance for aging athletes in training and how it can contribute to their success and longevity.

Dealing with a setback after a CrossFit competition can be challenging, especially if you have been training for months or even years for the event. However, setbacks are a part of life, and how you handle them can have a significant impact on your ability to bounce back and move forward. In this blog post, we'll discuss some strategies for handling setbacks from the CrossFit Age Group Online Qualifiers (AGOQ) and/or Quarterfinals.

This weekend marks the second/third stage for the age group quarterfinals. I say the second/third stage because I look at stage two as the teams and stage three as the age group, of which both are competing this weekend. With the release of the floorplans, I am very excited to see these workouts. Here are my thoughts on the floorplans and potential difference makers, as well as a few tips to mentally prepare for the Quarterfinal weekend.

Compared to the early days of CrossFit, the average athlete in the sport is now expected to perform a wider array of gymnastic movements at ridiculously high volumes. It’s amazing to watch and it’s even cooler to sit back and think about how far these athletes have come in such a short period of time. But with expectations and demands still increasing, I have found myself wondering if we have forgotten the value that a strong foundation has on improving performance and preserving the athlete.

If you're a Masters athlete and your goal is succeeding at the SPORT of CrossFit, then listen up. It’s time to stop focusing on just “being good” at CrossFit. Yes, to be successful, obviously, you have to be good at the skills you’re going to see in the tests, but it’s time to start focusing on becoming athletic in a broader sense. Read more.

Over the years, I have seen the CrossFit Masters world grow and grow, and with that I have seen more and more companies coming out looking to capitalize on this market. The biggest problem I have seen from this lies around snake oil sales to these athletes.

In the sport of CrossFit, you may have heard the phrase “that athlete has an engine”. What that really means is the athlete is very aerobically fit. This athlete who is known to have an engine will look like they can just keep going for hours on end, without ever needing to stop. An athlete's aerobic capacity is the base of their performance. Aerobic capacity is the maximum amount of oxygen an athlete can utilize for a period of time.

Burnout is no joke; you begin to see a dip in performance, increased anxiety around training, and just generally feel like you don’t want to “grind” anymore. Some people would say that you’re not burnt out, but rather you're just under-recovered… Personally, I think that’s bullshit.

Plan accordingly. Too often athletes jump into programs without truly understanding what they need and what their priorities are. CrossFit Masters athletes need to really break down the last year of training and establish where they did really well, and where they fell short.

As more and more Masters athletes come to Conquer, the more I see how a large portion of the Masters community is working off old ideas and principles when it comes to training. Addressing the Masters athletes out there - I don’t fault you for it, it’s just what’s been/being offered to you. Read more.

I am not sure if it is my age, or my connection, which is growing, to this community, but I am falling deeper and deeper in love with the programming around CrossFit Masters athletes. I feel this could be from the understanding and appreciation of their work ethic. These people usually have families, and full time jobs, yet they get the work day in and day out with very little complaining or excuses.